2() • UKI'olM' OK OFKICK ( M ' KX PKIUMKNT STA'IIONS. 



Im'cii .s1i(»\\ 11. Tilt' clicmiciil coiMposit ioii ol" tlic lo;i,ves, ti uiik, n\u\ roots 

 of fill' :i|»|)Ii' trie li:i\t' Ix'cii (IctiTiniiicd holli I'or old 1 rccs and tor 

 iiui"s(*ry .stock, and llic diaft of the oi"cliard on tlir I'lTtility ol the .soil 

 has Ihmmi shown to h(> lully as i^iHiut iis (•oiitimu)iis cr()i)pint4- with 

 ceroals. This lias ln'ouuht out the nooossitv ol" t'citiii/iiii"- orchards, 

 and has led to important cxpiUMnuMits on the action ot" dillVrcnt fci1i- 

 lizcrs on the i^-rowth of the appl(^ oichard and of fruit pi'odiiction. 



In connection with studies relatin<;- to the cultivation of orchards, 

 detinit(> information has heen obtained as to the period of growth of 

 the slioots and roots, the time of formation of the Hower and hnif buds, 

 and the methods of controlling the ripening of the wood so as to 

 prevent winterkilling. The \alue of clean cultivation and of fall 

 cover crops in the preservation of soil moisture and the protection of 

 the roots during the winter has ))een demonstrated, and it may be 

 safely asserted that never before in this country have apple onrhards 

 been given such thorough and rational culti\ation as at the present 

 time. 



How best to plant apple trees in the arid West and the humid East, 

 or on clay soils and sandy soils, right methods of pruning the roots and 

 triiiningthe tops, how to ward ofl' diseases and insect pests and produce 

 uniform and perfect fruit, are problems on wdiich much valuable 

 experimental infoiniation has ])een obtained. As the result of station 

 work, we know detinitely the controlling factors in the keeping of 

 fruit in ordinary- and cold storage, and in the utilization of waste fruit 

 by evaporation, or conversion into cider, vinegar, jelly, marmalade, etc. 



The large amount of work which the stations have done on ([uestions 

 relating to feeding stuffs is indicated by the brief review of this work 

 given elsewhere in this report. Some of the practical results of this 

 work have been very important. The saving and use of corn fodder 

 (stover), which Avas formerly so largely wastc^d o\er a large part of the 

 countrv, is a striking illustration of this. Its value as a feeding stuff 

 has been demonstrat(>d, and the ])cst means of utilizing it have })een 

 shown by the stations' work, and their continual agitation has brought 

 about very great improvement in farm practice in this respect. At 

 the nominal value of $1 a ton the corn stover crop of the United 

 States would be worth at least $100,000,000. While it is not all 

 utilized, a much larger share of it is, and the practice of doing this is 

 steauily increasing. 



The inspection of commercial and condimental feeding stuffs, brought 

 about by the experiment stations, has alread}^ had the effect of largeh' 

 holding in check the adulteration of these products and fraud in their 

 sale, ill a number of States where the laws have been A'igorousl}' 

 enforced l)}- the stations inferior articles have been entirely driven out 

 of the market, because farmers would not bu}' them unless they received 

 the stations' stamp of approval. 



